Atomic museum chief shares North Korea's nuke abilities

LAS VEGAS (KSNV MyNews3) -- The executive director at the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas says he does not think North Korea's missiles can reach the U.S.

Allan Palmer estimates it will take North Korea decades to make missiles capable of hitting U.S. soil, with the exception of Hawaii. Palmer says North Korea's missiles may also be able to reach Japan, and they can hit South Korea, putting U.S. servicemen stationed there in danger.

“They're looking for a reaction just like a child who's looking for attention,” Palmer said. “You give them a solid response and say fine you want to do that, but here's what you're going to be facing.”

What North Korea would be facing is an anti-missile system from the Pentagon sent to the American base of Guam.

“They catch them in mid-flight, and they can intercept them and blow up and destroy that before it goes over and hits the ground,” Palmer said.

Palmer is a former U.S. Air Force officer who flew F-4 Phantom Fighters over Korea in the 1970s.